ALL INDIA MUSLIM
MAJLIS-e-MUSHAWARAT Babari Masjid Movement Coordination CommitteeAdvani’s Claim of Near Settlement Totally False
No Private Settlement can be Imposed on Muslims
AIMMM/BMMCC Challenge Advani to Name Muslim Interlocutors
New Delhi, 28 October, 2004: Shri Syed Shahabuddin, President of the All India Muslim Majlis- e-Mushawarat (AIMMM), has issued the following Statement :

“The All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) and the Babari Masjid Movement Coordination Committee (BMMCC) have been surprised by the false claim of Shri L.K. Advani that the Vajpayee Government had held talks with Hindu and Muslim leaders for a settlement of the Ayodhya Question and that it was on the verge of finding a solution to the problem before the Lok Sabha polls.

There were no talks, directly or indirectly, between the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the only organization authorized to represent the Muslim community on the Babari Masjid Question and the Vajpayee Government at any time during its period.

The Vajpayee Government had from time to time tried to sow confusion and dissention by claiming talks with Muslim leaders without disclosing their identity. But any ‘settlement’ signed by hand-picked non-entities under undue influence would not have bound the Board or the Muslim community or pass the legal test. Any out-of-court settlement would in any case be subject to judicial approval could not be imposed on the aggrieved Muslim community.

Whatever reservations, the Vajpayee Government or the Sangh Parivar may nurse about the judicial process, no Government can ignore or bypass the Judgement of the Supreme Court of 24 October, 1994 which authorized the Special Bench of the Allahabad High Court to revive and proceed with the consolidated suit to determine the title to the disputed area including the Babari Masjid site and ordered status quo to be maintained in the entire acquired area until after title was decided.

The AIMMM and the BMMCC are convinced that by making a false claim Shri Advani is only trying to regain the trust of the Ram Janambhoomi Movement and cover up the failure of the Vajpayee Government to break the legal barrier. But he is also misinforming and misleading the people.

The AIMMM/BMMCC demand that Shri Advani reveal the names of Muslim interlocutors and explain why his government and party, after facing repeated rebuffs in the Supreme Court, continue to oppose the judicial process, in blatant defiance of the Rule of Law.”